Texas Dog Owners ALERT!! - Page 1

Texas
 
Senate Bill 634 was introduced February 2 by Sen. Kel Seliger (R-Amarillo). A committee assignment has not yet been made. Thus far, no cosponsors are recorded for the legislation.
 
The legislation says that a dog may not be kept outdoors:
 

• In an enclosure of less that 150 square feet for every dog older than age six months. This definition would be met by a kennel that is 10-feet wide and 15-feet long. This size of kennel would be appropriate for a great Dane, but absurd for a Chihuahua. Owners of smaller dogs, including hunting breeds such as beagles, basset hounds and working terriers, would be very unfairly penalized. Many dog owners would have to tear down and replace existing kennel structures that are well constructed and completely meet the needs of their dogs. Individual costs of compliance easily could be several thousand dollars, at a minimum. However, hot or cold weather would invalidate this kind of housing.

 

• If the air temperature with wind chill factored in falls below 32 degrees, or if a heat advisory has been issued. The bill fails to consider that acclimatization to weather extremes is essential for the health and safety of hunting dogs, herding dogs and other working dogs. These dogs must work in all kinds of weather. If they are not used to severe weather, their lives are endangered. It also ignores the fact that a shaded and breezy outdoor location often is the safest place to keep a dog in hot weather, and people are not required to live in air-conditioned homes. Indoor housing in such conditions is dangerous. Protection from the wind is essential in cold weather, but many kennels offer complete protection from cold weather in an outdoor situation through good housing, windbreaks and other methods.

 

• Or on a “restraint.” This term is not defined in the legislation, but it appears to prohibit anyone from keeping a dog on a tether or chain. Experienced dog people know that tethering provides a dog with the highest possible degree of freedom and safety if it is done correctly. It also provides dogs with the most frequent interaction with people, as contact is unobstructed by kennel fencing. In addition, the only research done on the effects of tethering shows that there are no observable changes in behavior if tethering is used (a 2002 study by Cornell University).

 
Traditional non-confined farm and ranch housing of herding and working dogs also would appear to be prohibited, and leaving a farm, ranch, herding or livestock protection dog outdoors unattended without restraint would not be allowed. This also would appear to apply to dogs that are used to guard livestock from predators or fenced private property from intruders.
 
Another apparent prohibition would be housing dogs in dog boxes mounted in or on pick-up trucks, horse trailers or dog trailers when their owner is traveling. These “on-the-road” housing methods are frequently used by many people who travel with dogs, or people who participate in hunting, field trials, dog shows and other events.
 
And a separate requ